Revit+Ram+Interoperability

=Revit RAM Interoperability= Class project for AE 597F: Virtual Facility Prototyping An investigation of the structural steel interoperability between Revit Structure and RAM.

Team Members:
Shane Goodman, Brian Goodykoontz, and Maria Piergallini

Description of Project:
This project is an investigation of the interoperability between the BIM authoring tool, Revit Structure and RAM Structural System (RAM SS), specifically analyzing the structural steel component of this interoperability. Outlined in this entry are the workflows to get from Revit Structure to RAM SS and from RAM SS back to Revit Structure. Additionally, we provide the steps required to be able to go between the two programs and how to use RAM SS.

Benefits:

 * Time Savings - No remodeling of the structure in the analysis program
 * Accuracy - Structural member locations are transferred without error
 * Collaboration - Real time updates for both architect and engineer

This interoperability is provided in the form of a plug-in to Revit to import and export files to Revit. The link, which is a product of Bentley, provides the user with the ability to transport a model that they have created between programs.

Software:
Autodesk: Revit Structure 2008, Service Pack 3 (.rvt file format) Bentley: RAM Structural System, Version 11.2 (.rss file format) Bentley: [|Revit Structure Link]

Products Developed:
RAM Tutorial Revit to RAM Workflow RAM to Revit Workflow

References:
(1)Bentley RAM Structural System, Autodesk Revit Structure 2008 Link: User Guide (This downloads with the RAM Structure Link)[|http://www.ramint.com]

Lessons Learned:

 * Interoperability between RAM Structural System and Revit Structure is relatively straightforward, with a few limitations.
 * RAM Structural System is predominantly used within the structural design community to analyze gravity loads. Other applications would typically be used to analyze lateral and earthquake loads.
 * When designing a model in RAM you can design your floor based on a typical floor plan, therefore you only have to designate slab edges, deck, and loads once. However when using a model imported from Revit you must designate these items to each floor separately.
 * It is important to pre-load the member sizes that were updated in RAM Structural System into your Revit Structure families so the file can be successfully updated.
 * Structural slab location will transfer from Revit Structure to RAM Structural System. However, once in RAM you must still define the deck type you want because RAM Structural System defaults to a generic slab. Also, you must define the slab edges because they are not already defined in RAM.
 * Surface loads applied in Revit will not transfer over to RAM Structural System, you must apply the desired Dead and Live loads in RAM.
 * Surface loads applied in RAM Structural Systems will transfer into a new Revit file. However if you are updating an existing Revit file the loads will not transfer to your Revit model.
 * A basic model should be started in Revit then transferred to RAM Structural System if updating the Revit model is desired after analysis. If the structural model is started in RAM Structural System, a new structural system will need to be created by hand in Revit. By beginning in Revit to attain a basic structural model, easier interoperability is obtained as a new Revit structural model can not be generated from scratch from an original RAM structural System Model.

Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, it is! In order to do this, you must first open your Revit Architecture model in Revit Structures since the link is only between Revit Structures and Ram. From Revit Structures, you can follow the same procedures described in the Revit to RAM workflow to export the model to RAM and perform a structural analysis.
 * 1. Is it possible to export a model from Revit Architecture to RAM Structural Systems?**

Yes, it is possible to change your Revit model after the initial export to RAM. To do this, export from Revit to RAM like you did the first time; however, this time be sure to select the box that says "Perform deleates on re-export." Your model should successfully be re-exported to RAM with the original selections saved. RAM is ready to re-design based on the Revit changes!
 * 2. Can you send changes from a Revit model to RAM Structural Systems after the initial structural analysis?**

Yes, revisions can be made to your RAM model and successfully be imported back into Revit. Simply select to "Update Existing Model" and "Perform Deletes from RAM."
 * 3. Can you send changes from a RAM model to the original Revit Model?**

Acknowledgments:
4th Year Architectural Engineering Student (Structural Option) Penn State University
 * Jason Tilley** - //RAM Instruction//

Assistant Professor of Architectural Engineering Penn State University
 * Dr. Lepage** - //Model Testing Approach//